College mergers must make sense for community

Following the second proposed college merger in 2 months Local Anniesland and Drumchapel candidate Paul McGarry has made calls for local communities to be given greater consideration on college mergers. Anniesland College has announced a proposed merger with Cardonald College just two months after the announcement of a super college that would involve Clydebank college.

Paul commented "Anniesland college and Clydebank college both have a vital role to play in the community and have provided a significant benefit to the local community. Amidst the significant SNP cuts of £40 million to Scotland's colleges these mergers have been necessary to ensure the long term survival of these colleges. It is however essential that we do not allow the SNP to bulldoze these colleges through the merger process and proper consideration is given to the impact on the community.

"We must consider that for many, these colleges provide a lifeline to accessing further education. We cannot allow the wide range of courses presently available to decrease significantly, particularly when this may involve significant commutes accross the city. 

"It is important that this is factored at the very heart of these mergers.